Many problems in human experience result from a false and
and inaccurate definition of humankind - premised in man-made
religions and humanistic philosophies. Definitions, for better
or worse, rule in the minds, behaviors, and institutions of
mankind. It is therefore essential to perceive and specify that
distinction which naturally and most uniquely defines the human
being. We can be confident that delineating and communicating
that quality which will assist the process of resolution and the
courageous ascension to which we humans are called. As Americans
of the 21st century we are obliged and privileged to join our
forebears and participate in its continuing proclamation.

MAN DEFINED: EARTH'S CHOICEMAKER
By James Fletcher Baxter
(c) 2003 All Rights Reserved

Human knowledge is a fraction of the whole universe. The
balance is a vast void of our human ignorance. Human reason
cannot fully function in such a void, thus the intellect can
rise no higher than the criteria by which it perceives and
measures values.

Humanism makes man his own standard of measure, however, as
with all measuring systems, a standard must be greater than the
value measured. Based on preponderant ignorance and an ego-
centric carnal nature, humanism demotes reason to the simpleton
task of excuse-making in behalf of the rule of appetites,
desires, feelings, emotions, and glands.

Because man cannot invent criteria greater than himself, the
humanist lacks a predictive capability. Without transcendent
criteria, humanism cannot evaluate options with foresight for
progression and survival. Lacking foresight, man is blind to
potential consequence and is unwittingly committed to the
redundant wreckage of expensive hindsight: averages, mediocrity,
and regression - and worse. Humanistic opinion is therefore an
inadequate and unworthy resource.

In the realm of the physical universe, only statistical
conglomerates pay tribute to deterministic forces.
Singularities do not and are therefore random and unpredict-
able, and in this sense, uncaused. Thus, the finest contribu-
tion inanimate reality is capable of making toward choice,
without its own selective agencies, is this continuing opportu-
nity as the pre-condition to choice it defers to living forms.

Biological science affirms that each level of life, single-cell
to man himself, possesses attributes of sensitivity, discrim-
ination, and selectivity, and in the unique nature of each
diverse life form.

The survival and progression of life forms has all too often
been dependent upon an ever-present potential and undetermin-
ative appearance of one unique individual organism within the
whole spectrum of a given species. Only the uniquely equipped
individual organism is, like the Golden Wedge of Ophir, capable
of traversing the causal-gap to survival and progression.
Mere reproductive determinacy would have rendered life forms
incapable of such potential. Only a moving universe of
opportunity plus choice enables the present reality.

The human being possesses a unique, highly developed and
sensitive perception of diversity. Thus aware, man is endowed
with a natural capability for enacting an internal mental and
external physical selectivity. Quantitative and qualitative
choice-making thus lends itself as the superior basis of an
active intelligence.

Man is earth's Choicemaker. His title describes his definitive
and typifying characteristic. Recall that his other features
are but vehicles of experience intent on the development of
perceptive awareness and the following acts of decision. Note
that the products of mankind cannot define them for they are
the fruit of the discerning choicemaking process and include
the cognition of self, the utility of experience, the develop-
ment of value-measuring systems and language, and the accul-
turation of civilization.

The arts and the sciences of man, as with his habits, customs,
and traditions, are the creative harvest of his perceptive and
selective powers. His articles, constructs, and commodities,
however marvelous to behold, deserve neither awe nor idolatry,
for man, not his contrivance, is earth's own highest expression
of the creative process.

Man is earth's Choicemaker. The sublime and significant act
of choosing is, itself, the Archimedean fulcrum upon which
humans lever and direct the forces of cause and effect to an
elected level of quality and variety. Further, it orients him
toward environmental opportunity, freedom, and bestows earth's
title, The Choicemaker, on his singular and plural brow.

"Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the
way he chooses." Psalm 25:12 Man is earth's Choicemaker. He is
by nature and nature's God a creature of choice and of criteria.
Psalm 119:30,173. His unique and definitive characteristic is,
and of Right ought to be, the natural foundation of his environ-
ments, institutions, and respectful relations to his fellow-man.
Thus, he is oriented to a freedom whose roots are in the Order
of the universe.

The void of human ignorance can easily be filled with a
functional faith while not-so-patiently awaiting the foot-
dragging growth of human knowledge and behavior. Faith, initia-
ted by the Creator and revealed and validated in His Word, the
Bible, brings a transcendent standard to earth's choice-maker.
Other philosophies and religions are man-made, and thereby lack
what only the Bible has: transcendent criteria and fulfilled
prophetic validation. The vision of faith in God and His Word
is survival equipment for today and the future.

Deterministic systems, ideological symbols of oppression and
abdication by humans from their natural role as earth's
Choicemaker, degenerate into collectivism: the negation of
individual value, they become a conglomerate plural-based system
of measuring human value. Blunting an awareness of diversity,
blurring alternatives, and delimiting the selective creative
process, they are self-relegated to a circular and passive
regression.

Tampering with man's selective nature endangers his survival,
for such attempts render him impotent and obsolete by denying
the tools of diversity, individuality, perception, criteria,
selectivity, and progress. Oppressive and coercive attempts
produce revulsion, for such acts are contrary to an indetermin-
ate nature and nature's indeterminate off-spring, man the
choicemaker.

Until the oppressors discover that wisdom only just begins with
a respectful acknowledgement of the Creator, the Creation, and
the Choicemaker, they will be ever learning but never coming to
a knowledge of the truth. The rejection of Creator-initiated
standards relegates the mind of man to its own empirical,
primitive, and delimited devices. It is thus that the human
intellect cannot ascend and function at any level higher than
its criteria.

The carnal-ego rejects criteria and self-discipline for such
instruments are tools of the mind and attitude. The appetites
of the flesh have no respect for standards, for at the point
of contention, standards are perceived as alien, restrictive,
and inhibiting. Yet, the very survival of our physical nature
itself depends upon a maintained sovereignty of the mind - and
of the spirit.

As long as some choose to abdicate their personal reality and
submit to the delusions of man-made collectivism, just so long
will they be subject and reacting only, to be tossed by every
impulse emanating from others. Those who choose such a path of
abdication may, in perfect justice, find themselves weighed in
the balances of their own choosing.

It is worthy to recall that the principles of Biblical
scripture are still today the foundation under Western Civil-
ization and the American way of life. That human institution
which is structured on the principle, "...all men are endowed
by their Creator with...Liberty..," is a system with its roots
in the natural Order of the universe. The opponents of such a
system are necessarily engaged in a losing contest with "nature
and nature's God." To the advent of a new Season we commend the
present generation and its "...multitudes in the valley of
decision." The Season of Generation-Choicemaker Joel 3:14 KJV

"Above all, I see an ability to choose the better from the
worse that has made possible life's progress."
Charles Lindbergh

http://www.geocities.com/James-Baxter/

Posted by: Jim Baxter at February 9, 2003 09:05 AM

Jim needs to get his own blog....

By the way, I like a window seat on airplanes. I have terrible vertigo until I pass my "point of reference," and then I'm okay with being high in the sky. Just don't put me ten stories off the ground. I leave claw-marks in the handrails and damn near piss my pants.

And I have to do that almost every day.

Posted by: Acidman at February 9, 2003 10:24 AM

Acidman,

That really makes me glad I work in an office now. I don't think I would make it in a job where I had to do that every day.

Jim,

I didn't read all of your essay, but I couldn't help noticing that you seem to have great reverence for the Bible. I don't want to debate that with you, but I'm one of those people who don't feel the same way. As Acidman noted, maybe you should consider getting a weblog of your own. That way you could debate this with people on your site (and I say that with all due respect as you seem to have a need to express yourself on this topic).

Posted by: Aubrey Turner at February 9, 2003 12:06 PM